Tsai Ing-wen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tsai Ing-wen
蔡英文
Official portrait, 2016
7th President of the Republic of China
In office 20 May 2016 – 20 May 2024
Premier	See list Lin Chuan Lai Ching-te Su Tseng-chang Chen Chien-jen
Vice President	Chen Chien-jen Lai Ching-te
Preceded by	Ma Ying-jeou
Succeeded by	Lai Ching-te
13th, 15th and 17th Chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party
In office 20 May 2020 – 26 November 2022
Secretary General	Lin Hsi-yao
Preceded by	Cho Jung-tai
Succeeded by	Chen Chi-mai (acting)
In office 28 May 2014 – 24 November 2018
Secretary General	Joseph Wu Hung Yao-fu
Preceded by	Su Tseng-chang
Succeeded by	Lin Yu-chang (acting)
In office 20 May 2008 – 29 February 2012
Secretary General	See list Wang Tuoh Wu Nai-ren Su Jia-chyuan
Preceded by	Frank Hsieh (acting)
Succeeded by	Kiku Chen Chu (acting)
26th Vice Premier of the Republic of China
In office 25 January 2006 – 21 May 2007
Premier	Su Tseng-chang
Preceded by	Wu Rong-i
Succeeded by	Chiou I-jen
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office 1 February 2005 – 24 January 2006
Succeeded by	Wu Ming-ming
Constituency	Party-list (DPP)
6th Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council
In office 20 May 2000 – 20 May 2004
Premier	Tang Fei Chang Chun-hsiung Yu Shyi-kun
Deputy	Chen Ming-tong
Preceded by	Su Chi
Succeeded by	Joseph Wu
Personal details
Born	(1956-08-31) 31 August 1956 (age 68) Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan
Political party	Democratic Progressive (since 2004)
Education	National Taiwan University (LLB) Cornell University (LLM) London School of Economics (PhD)
Signature
Scientific career
Fields	Law and economics
Thesis	Unfair trade practices and safeguard actions (1983)
Doctoral advisor	Michael Elliott

Tsai Ing-wen (Chinese: 蔡英文; pinyin: Cài Yīngwén; born 31 August 1956) is a Taiwanese politician and legal expert. She served as the 7th President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2016 to 2024. She is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). She also led the DPP as its chairwoman several times between 2008 and 2022.

Tsai was born in Taipei. She studied law at National Taiwan University and Cornell University. She then earned her PhD in law from the London School of Economics in 1984. After her studies, she became a law professor. In 1993, she started working in government roles. She helped write important policies under President Lee Teng-hui.

During Chen Shui-bian's time as president, Tsai was the Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council. She joined the DPP in 2004 and became a member of the Legislative Yuan for a short time. She was later appointed as Vice Premier but resigned in 2007. After the DPP lost the 2008 presidential election, she was chosen to lead the party. She resigned from this role when the party lost the 2012 presidential election.

Tsai ran for New Taipei City mayor in 2010 but was not elected. In 2011, she became the first woman to be nominated as a presidential candidate by a major party in Taiwan's history. She lost the 2012 election to Ma Ying-jeou. However, she won the 2016 presidential election by a large margin, becoming Taiwan's first female president. She was re-elected in 2020. Her presidency ended on 20 May 2024, and Lai Ching-te became the new president. Tsai is the second president from the DPP. She is also the first popularly elected president who had never been the Mayor of Taipei.

Tsai Ing-wen
"Tsai Ing-wen" in Chinese characters
Traditional Chinese	蔡英文
Simplified Chinese	蔡英文
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Cài Yīngwén Bopomofo ㄘㄞˋ   ㄧㄥ   ㄨㄣˊ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Tsay Ing'wen Wade–Giles Ts’ai4 Ying1-wen2 Tongyong Pinyin Cài Ying-wún Yale Romanization Tsài Yīngwén MPS2 Tsài Yīng-wén IPA [tsʰâi̯ íŋ.u̯ə̌n] Hakka Romanization Tshai Yîn-vun Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Choi Yīng-màhn IPA [tsʰɔ̄ːy jéŋ.mɐ̏n] Jyutping coi3 jing1 man4 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Chhòa Eng-bûn Tâi-lô Tshuà Ing-bûn

Early Life and Education

Tsai Ing-wen was born in Zhongshan District, Taipei City, on 31 August 1956. She was the youngest of nine or eleven children. Her father, Tsai Chieh-sheng, owned an auto repair shop. Her mother, Chang Chin-fong, was a housewife.

Tsai studied at Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School. Her father encouraged her to study law. She graduated from National Taiwan University in 1978. She then earned a Master of Laws degree from Cornell University in 1980. In 1984, she received her PhD in law from the University of London. After returning to Taiwan, she taught law at Soochow University and National Chengchi University.

Tsai also worked as a consultant for government bodies. These included the Fair Trade Commission and the Mainland Affairs Council. She helped write important laws, like the one for relations with Hong Kong and Macau.

Starting in Politics

In 2000, Tsai was appointed as the head of the Mainland Affairs Council. This was a very important role. She joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2004. Later that year, she was elected as a legislator.

On 26 January 2006, Tsai became the Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan. This is a high-ranking government position. She also led the Consumer Protection Commission at the same time.

Tsai resigned from her government roles in 2007. This happened when the Premier, Su Tseng-chang, also resigned. She then worked as the chair of TaiMedBiologics, a biotechnology company.

Leading the DPP Party

On 19 May 2008, Tsai was elected to lead the DPP. She was the first woman to chair a major political party in Taiwan. She took office on 20 May 2008, the same day Ma Ying-jeou became president.

First Term as Party Leader: 2008–2012

Tsai at a DPP rally in 2008.

Tsai said the DPP would work to strengthen Taiwan's identity. She also promised to protect social justice. She questioned President Ma's views on Taiwan's independence. Ma emphasized the "1992 Consensus", which Tsai disagreed with.

Tsai apologized to the public when former President Chen Shui-bian faced accusations. She said the DPP would not hide any wrongdoing. A special group was set up to investigate corruption within the party.

In 2010, Tsai debated President Ma about a trade agreement with mainland China. Ma believed it would help Taiwan's exports and jobs. Tsai argued it would harm Taiwan's industries and make Taiwan too dependent on China. She said Taiwan should work with the World Trade Organization for trade.

Under Tsai's leadership, the DPP gained strength in elections. She was re-elected as party chair in 2010. In 2011, Tsai stated that "The ROC is Taiwan, Taiwan is the ROC." She resigned as DPP chair after losing the 2012 presidential election.

Second Term as Party Leader: 2014–2018

On 15 March 2014, Tsai announced she would run for DPP leader again. She won the election easily.

Tsai led the DPP to a big win in the local elections on 29 November 2014. The party won leadership in 13 out of 22 areas. This victory made her a strong candidate for the 2016 Presidential Elections. She announced her second run for president on 15 February 2015. On 16 January 2016, she won the election by a large margin. She received 56.12% of the votes.

On 24 November 2018, she resigned as DPP leader. This happened after the party lost many local elections.

Third Term as Party Leader: 2020–2022

Tsai became the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party again on 20 May 2020. This was when she started her second term as president. She resigned as party leader after the 2022 local elections.

Presidential Campaigns

2012 Election Bid

On 11 March 2011, Tsai Ing-wen announced she would seek the DPP's presidential nomination. On 27 April 2011, she became the first female presidential candidate in Taiwan. She won the party's primary election by a small number of votes.

Tsai ran against President Ma Ying-jeou and James Soong. The election was held on 14 January 2012. She received 45% of the votes but lost to President Ma. She then resigned as the DPP Chairman.

2016 Election Victory

Tsai's campaign headquarters in 2016.

President Tsai with Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes in Taiwan, 20 May 2016.

On 15 February 2015, Tsai officially entered the DPP's presidential primary. She was the only candidate and was nominated on 15 April.

In summer 2015, Tsai visited the United States. She met with US lawmakers like Senators John McCain and Jack Reed. She spoke about working with other political groups in Taiwan. On 14 November, Tsai announced Chen Chien-jen as her running mate for Vice President.

On 16 January 2016, Tsai won the presidential election. She beat her opponent Eric Chu by a large margin. Tsai became president on 20 May 2016. Time magazine named her one of "The 100 Most Influential People" in May 2016.

2020 Re-election

President Tsai during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.

Tsai announced on 19 February 2019 that she would run for re-election in 2020. She won the DPP primary election against Lai Ching-te. The DPP officially nominated her on 19 June 2019. Tsai and Lai formed the DPP ticket on 17 November 2019. She won the election against Han Kuo-yu.

Presidency (2016–2024)

First Term Goals

In her first speech as president, Tsai talked about her goals. These included improving pensions and care for the elderly. She also wanted to make the justice system fairer. Her economic plan focused on new industries and working with more countries. For relations with mainland China, she wanted continued talks.

Second Term Goals

In her second speech, Tsai shared more goals. She aimed to lower the voting age from 20 to 18. She also wanted to improve Taiwan's high-tech industries. This included semiconductors and cybersecurity. She planned to increase local production of military equipment. For defense, she focused on modernizing the military. On relations with mainland China, she rejected the "one country, two systems" idea. She wanted peaceful coexistence.

Defense and Local Production

Under Tsai's leadership, Taiwan's military spending increased. The government focused on making its own military equipment. This included submarines and missiles. The AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle, a jet trainer developed in Taiwan, had its first test flight in 2020. In August 2020, the first locally-made mine-laying ship was delivered. Construction on a new submarine also began in November 2020.

International Relations

During Tsai's presidency, some countries that recognized Taiwan switched their recognition to mainland China. These included Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.

However, Taiwan's unofficial relations with the United States and the European Union improved. In August 2020, a high-level US official visited Taiwan. This was the first such visit since 1979. In April 2021, the US ambassador to Palau also visited Taiwan. An official delegation from the European Union visited Taiwan in November 2021.

In August 2022, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. This was the highest-profile US visit since 1997. Mainland China responded with military exercises around Taiwan. In March 2023, a delegation from the Czech Republic also visited Taiwan.

Relations with Mainland China

In her first inauguration speech, Tsai acknowledged past talks with mainland China. However, she did not agree that a "consensus" was reached. She wanted continued talks based on historical facts and Taiwan's democratic will. Beijing said her answer was "incomplete." In June 2016, Beijing stopped official communications with Taiwan.

In January 2019, Xi Jinping, the leader of mainland China, suggested a "one country, two systems" plan for Taiwan. Tsai rejected this idea. She said Taiwan would not accept "one country, two systems." She also said that Taiwan and mainland China "do not belong to each other."

COVID-19 Response

The Tsai administration managed Taiwan's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Central Epidemic Command Center was activated in January 2020. It helped control the spread of the virus.

Trade Policy

In August 2020, Tsai's government allowed imports of US pork. This helped with trade talks between Taiwan and the United States. In June 2022, Taiwan and the US started a new trade framework. They signed an initial trade agreement in June 2023.

Energy Plans

The Tsai administration aims for Taiwan's electricity to come from 20% renewable energy, 30% coal, and 50% natural gas by 2025.

Green Energy Development

The government has invested in green energy projects. They plan to install many wind turbines on land and offshore. Taiwan's first offshore wind farm, Formosa I, started operations in 2019. The government also increased solar power capacity. In May 2023, a law was passed requiring solar panels on all new buildings.

Nuclear Energy Future

Tsai promised to make Taiwan nuclear-free by 2025. This goal was made into law in 2017. However, a 2018 referendum led to this law being removed. Despite this, the administration still aims to phase out nuclear energy. The dangers of nuclear power plants in earthquake-prone areas influenced this decision. The Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant closed in 2019. The Kuosheng Nuclear Power Plant will close in 2023, and the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in 2025.

Infrastructure Development

In July 2017, a bill for "Forward-Looking Infrastructure" was passed. It provided funds for projects like light-rail, water supply, and green energy. Other projects included improving roads, industrial parks, and recreation centers.

Justice System Changes

The Tsai administration proposed a "lay judge" system. This system involves regular citizens helping professional judges. The law for this system was passed in July 2020. It started on January 1, 2023.

Labor Law Updates

In January 2017, new labor laws took effect. They set a 40-hour work week with rest days. However, these changes were criticized for being too strict. In March 2018, the laws were revised again to be more flexible. These revisions also faced protests from labor groups.

Protecting Languages

The Tsai administration worked to protect Taiwan's languages. Before, only Mandarin Chinese was the national language. Now, Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, 16 indigenous languages, Taiwanese Sign Language, and the Matsu dialect are also national languages.

Laws were passed to support these languages. This included creating broadcast services and providing interpreters. It also introduced language classes in schools. In 2019, passports allowed names to be written using romanizations of these languages.

New Southbound Policy

Tsai with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Salvadoran President Salvador Sánchez Cerén in 2017.

The New Southbound Policy started in September 2016. Its goal was to make Taiwan less dependent on mainland China. It aimed to improve cooperation with 18 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. This policy focused on trade, technology, education, and tourism. By mid-2019, trade and investment with these countries had increased significantly.

Pension System Reform

Taiwan's old pension system was facing financial problems. Reforms were passed in 2017 and 2018 for civil servants, teachers, and military veterans. These changes reduced special interest rates for pensions. They also set minimum monthly pensions and raised the retirement age. While some protested, most Taiwanese people were happy with the reforms.

Same-Sex Marriage Legalization

Republic of China Military Academy, 16 June 2016.

Tsai attends the commencement of her alma mater, Zhongshan Girls High School in Taipei, June 2016.

On 24 May 2017, Taiwan's highest court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry. This ruling gave the government two years to create a law. After some delays and public debate, a bill was passed on 17 May 2019. It granted same-sex couples almost all the same rights as heterosexual couples. The law took effect on 24 May 2019, making Taiwan the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

Transitional Justice Efforts

The Act on Promoting Transitional Justice was passed in December 2017. This law aimed to correct wrongs from Taiwan's authoritarian past. It set up a commission to investigate events from 1945 to 1992. This period includes the February 28 Incident and the White Terror. The commission has cleared political prisoners and declassified government documents.

Another law focused on "ill-gotten properties" of political parties. This law aimed to investigate assets illegally transferred to parties during the martial law era. It mainly applied to the Kuomintang (KMT). The KMT argued this was unfair. However, the court ruled the law was constitutional.

Political Views

United States Relations

President Tsai (center of image) meets with Republican U.S. Senate delegation led by John McCain, 5 June 2016.

Tsai supports strong ties between Taiwan and the United States. In December 2016, she had a phone call with then-President-elect Donald Trump. This was the first time a Taiwanese president spoke with a US president or president-elect since 1979.

In January 2021, Tsai met with the US Ambassador to the UN, Kelly Craft, by video. Craft praised Taiwan's success in fighting COVID-19. She said the US stands with Taiwan.

Cross-Strait Relations

Member of the House of Representatives of Japan Keiji Furuya and President Tsai, 20 May 2016.

The DPP believes Taiwan is already an independent state. Tsai's approach to relations with mainland China has been careful.

During her 2012 campaign, Tsai disagreed with the "1992 Consensus" as a basis for talks. She said most Taiwanese people did not agree with it. In her 2016 campaign, she focused on "maintaining the status quo." She promised to work within Taiwan's government system.

Tsai supports economic links with mainland China. However, she spoke against a trade agreement that increased these links too much. She believes Taiwan should trade with many different countries.

Tsai has also spoken out against mainland China's actions. She asked them to allow more freedom and democracy. She also accused them of spreading false information online to influence elections. In January 2019, she clearly rejected mainland China's "one country, two systems" proposal. She expressed support for Hong Kong protesters.

Tsai and Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine in October 2017.

Domestic Policy Views

Tsai has always supported disadvantaged groups. This includes the poor, women, children, and indigenous peoples. She also supports LGBT rights. She wants the government to help reduce unemployment. She also supports more public housing and childcare.

Tsai believes in government transparency. She wants a more open and fair political system. She has called for healing past injustices against indigenous groups. She also wants to address events like the February 28 Incident.

LGBT Rights Support

Tsai supports LGBT rights and same-sex marriage. In 2015, she released a campaign video featuring same-sex couples. She also posted a video saying, "I am Tsai Ing-wen, and I support marriage equality." During her presidency, she worked to legalize same-sex marriage. This happened outside of the Civil Code after a 2018 referendum.

Personal Life

Tsai's family has roots in Fangshan, Pingtung. Her paternal grandfather was from a prominent Hakka family. Her grandmother was of Paiwan aboriginal descent. This makes Tsai the first Taiwanese president with aboriginal heritage. She is also the second president of Hakka descent.

Tsai is not married and has no children. She is known for being a cat lover. Her two cats, "Think Think" and "Ah Tsai," were famous during her election campaign. In 2016, she adopted three retired guide dogs named Bella, Bunny, and Maru.

Honors and Recognition

Tsai was named one of Time magazine's "Most Influential People" in 2020. She was also ranked ninth on Forbes magazine's list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" in 2021. She has been praised for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also recognized for standing strong against pressure from mainland China.

She has received honors from several countries, including:

•  Belize:
  • Order of Belize (2018)
•  El Salvador:
  • Grand Cross with Gold Star of the National Order of Doctor José Matías Delgado (2017)
•  Eswatini:
  • Collar of the Order of the Elephant (2018)
•  Guatemala:
  • Grand Collar of the Order of the Quetzal (2017)
  • Grand Cross with Gold Star of the Order of the Five Volcanoes [es] (2023)
  • Peace Ambassador
•  Haiti:
  • Grand Cross of the National Order of Honour and Merit (2018)
•  Honduras:
  • Grand Cross with Gold Star of the Order of Francisco Morazán (2016)
•  Paraguay:
  • Grand Collar of the National Order of Merit (2016)
•  Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Order of St Christopher and Nevis (2019)

See also

In Spanish: Tsai Ing-wen para niños